Twenty-one first time offenders placed in probation program

Twenty-one first time offenders were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program on Thursday.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record is wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete the program, or are revoked from it, they will face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.

Judge Steven R. Serfass placed the following for one year, unless otherwise noted.

David C. Britton, 25, of Jim Thorpe, was placed for 18 months on a fleeing or attempting to elude police charge. He was arrested on March 30 by state police at Lehighton for an incident along Behrens Road in Penn Forest Township.

He was assessed $450 for the cost of the program, and ordered to render 75 hours of community service.

Steven Todd Deyoung, 42, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. He was arrested on Feb. 18 along Behrens Rd., in Penn Forest Township by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .16 BAC.

He was assessed $550, and ordered to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

Vanessa Matos, 27, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of forgery-unauthorized act in writing. She was arrested by Mahoning Township police for an incident on Aug. 27, 2012, at the Burger King restaurant where she was employed at the time.

She was assessed $450, and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, and make restitution of $70.50.

Sarah M. Nonnemacher, 23, of Lehighton, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Jan. 19 along Alum St., in Lehighton, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .13 BAC.

She was assessed $500, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 30 days.

Tyler John Sedovy, 19, of Whitehall, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Sept. 22, 2012, along Mauch Chunk St., by Mahoning Township police. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was assessed $600, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 90 days.

Jennifer L. Sommers, 38, of Summit Hill, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on June 6, 2012, along Blakeslee Blvd., by Mahoning Township police. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.

She was assessed $600, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

Kyle Stepp, 22, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2012, along Jamestown St., by Mahoning Township police.

He was assessed $450, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and render 50 hours of community service.

Janessa Jayne Tappan, 22, of Philadelphia, was placed for two years on a charge of simple assault. She was arrested by Jim Thorpe police for an incident on Jan. 27 in Crocodile Lyles' bar along E. 10th St., with Heather Goodhue the listed victim.

She was assessed $450, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and render 100 hours of community service.

Joshua J. Nensel, 33, of Palmerton, was placed on a charge of DUI. He was arrested on Sept. 28, 2012, along Lehigh Drive, by Lehighton police. Given a test, the result was .19 BAC.

He was assessed $650, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

Vincent A. Balent, 28, of Lehighton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Nov. 24, 2012, along Forest Inn Road, in Towamensing Township, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .13 BAC.

He was assessed $500, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 30 days.

Krista M. Beagell, 22, of Easton, was placed on a charge of DUI. She was arrested on Jan. 15 along SR209 in Towamensing Township, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.

She was assessed $600, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

Amanda Everitt, 22, of Palmerton, was placed on a charge of receiving stolen property. She was arrested on March 2 by Palmerton police for an incident involving Sean Kress, of Lehigh Ave., the victim and a iPhone stolen.

She was assessed $450, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and render 50 hours of community service.

Edward Martin Gower, 38, of Palmerton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Nov. 24, 2012, along Sixth St., in Palmerton, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .13 BAC.

He was assessed $500, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours community service, and license suspended for 30 days.

Matthew Lee Green, 19, of Bath, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Dec. 19, 2012, along Forest Inn Road in Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .10 BAC.

He was assessed $500, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 90 days.

Vincent John McFadden, 59, of Lehighton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Jan. 12, along Maury Road, in Penn Forest Township, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .16 BAC.

He was assessed $550, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and license suspended for 60 days.

Chris Eric Paisley, 53, of Tamaqua, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Feb. 10 along Harrity Road, in Franklin Township, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .17 BAC.

He was assessed $550, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

David Pereira, 43, of Palmerton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Jan. 20 along Third St., by Palmerton police. No test report was given.

He was assessed $600, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

John Richard Rogowitz Jr., 40, of Frankford, Del., was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Jan. 30 along SR209 by Franklin Township police. Given a test, the result was .14 BAC.

He was assessed $500, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 30 days.

Matthew Grant Stavenik, 19, of Pittstown, N.J., was placed on a theft by unlawful taking charge. He was arrested by state police at Lehighton for an incident at the Blue Mountain Ski Area in Lower Towamensing Township.

He was assessed $450, and ordered to make restitution of $107.14, get a D&A evaluation, and render 50 hours of community service.

Evan James Zeh, 21, of Frenchtown, N.J., was placed on a charge of theft by unlawful taking. He was arrested for the same incident with Stavenik.

He was assessed $450, and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.

Ashley C. Watkins, 26, of Emmaus, was placed on a charge of DUI. She was arrested on Nov. 25, 2012, along SR248 in Palmerton, by state police at Lehighton. She refused a test and will lose her license for a year.

She was assessed $600, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, and license suspended for 60 days.

Each defendant must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.